DASG Blog

Coltasan Sheanfhaclan ann an Cuimris agus Gàidhlig na h-Alba

Although tha Celtic languages are different in their own vocabularies they are very similar in their proverbs and understanding of the world as well, despite the languages differences. I have gathered some proverbs from “A Collection of Gaelic Proverbs and Familiar Phrases Based on MacIntosh’s Collection”, looking at Scottish Gaelic and Welsh, to show you their similarities in our proverbs.

"An uair as teinne air duine, ’s e ’cheann a cheart mhuineal."
"Po tynaf fo’r llinyn cynt af y tyr." (The tighter the string the faster the tower).
 
"B’ fheàrr leam gun robh thu fo chàrn chlach!"
"Carn ar dy ben/wyneb!" (A carn on your face!) Said to someone you are not so keen on.
 
"Cha bhi each-iasaid a chaoidh sgìth."
"Tw, farch benthyg!" (Gee up, hired-horse!) Said about people use the property of others with the same amount of respect as they would have for their own property.

"Cha bhi nàir air a’ ghortach."
"Rhag newyn nid oes gwyledd." (From hunger there is no vengeance).
 
"Chan eil fealladh ann is motha na gealladh gun choimh-ghealladh."
"Cas a addawo bob peth ac ni chywiro ddin." (He hates to promise everything and not correct anything.)
 
"Cha robh bàs fir, gun ghràs fir."
"Ni ddaw drwg i un, na ddaw da i ara 'l." (Evil will not come to one, and good will not come to another.)
  
"Comhairle caraid’ gun a h-iarraidh, cha d’ fhuair i riamh am meas bu chòir dhi," agus "Comhairle gun iarraidh, cha robh meas riamh oirre.
"Ergyd yn llwyn cysul heb erchi." (A shot in a quiet bush without a bow).
 
"Duine còir an rathaid mhòir ’s béisd mhór a’s tigh," agus "Dia rathaid is diabhal teallaich."
"Angel penfford, a diawl pentan."

"Fada bhon t-sùil, fada bhon chridhe."
"Allan o olwg allan o feddwll."

"Féuch an laogh blàr buidhe dhomh, ’s na féuch a chuid dhomh."
"Dangos y llo, ac na ddangos y llaeth." (Show the calf and not show the milk).
 
"Galar fada ’s eud na bhun," agus "Tinneas fada, a’s eug ann a bhun."
"Bod yn hir yn glaf, a marw eisys." (Being sick for a long time, and wanting to die).

"Ge teann dòrn, ’s faisge uileann."
"Nes penelin nag arddwrn." (Closer to elbow than wrist).
 
"Ged èighnichear an seanfhacal, cha bhreugaichear e," agus "Ged shàraichear an seanfhacal, cha bhreugaichear e."
"Plant gwirionedd yw hen diarhebion." (Children of truth are old proverbs).
 
"Ionnsaich do d’ sheanmhair brochan a dhèanamh."
"Dysgu gradd i hen farch." (Learn a degree to an old mare.)
 
"Is àirde ceann na gualainn."
"U Uwch pen na dwy ysgwydd." (Higher head than two shoulders).
 
"Is dall gach aineolach."
"Dall pob anghyfarwydd." (Blind are the uninstructed).
 
"Is dàna duine ’na chùil fhèin."
"Diau cynnadl taiog o'i dŷ." (A tattered conference from his house).
 
"Is fheàirrde cù sgaiteach cnàimh a chur na bhial."
"Gwell cariad y ci na'i gas." (Better love the dog than hate it).
 
"Ma tha aon chron ’s an eòlach, bidh a dhà dheug ’s an aineolach."
"Gwell i ddyn y drwg a ŵyr na'r drwg nis gŵyr." (Better for a man the evil he knows than the evil he does not know.)
 
"Is fheàrr caraid ’s a chùirt na crùn ’s an sporan."
"Gwell câr yn y llys nag aur ar fyd." (Better love in the court than gold in the world).
 
"Is fhiach air duine na gheallas e."
"Dyled ar pob ei addaw." (Debt on all his promises).
 
"Is math sgàthan sùil caraide."
"Drŷch i bawb ei mmydog." (A mirror for everyone).
 
"Miann a’ chait ’s an tràigh, ’s cha toir e fhèin aisd’ e."
"E fynai y gath byysgod, ond ni fynai wlychu ei throed." (The cat wanted fish, but he didn't want to wet her foot).
 
"Mir’ a’ chuilean ris an t-seana-chù."
"Chwarae hen gi a chenaw." (Play old dog and cub).
 
"Moladh gach fear an t-àth mar a gheabh."
"Canmoled pob y bont a' i dyes draw." (All praise the bridge that comes over).
 
"Ruith na caorach caoile le leathad."
"Rhuthr enderig o'r allt." (The run of the steer/Enderic rush from the hill).
 
"Seachdain an t-sionnaich, ’s bu mhath nach bu bliadhn’ i."
"Wythnos y llwynog." (The fox’s week). [1st week in lambing time – end of April]
 
"Tha àm air an achmhasan, agus tràth air a’ chèilidh."
"Amser i fwyd, aniser i olychwyd)/Fob peth yn ei amser." (Everything in its time).
 
"Tha cuibheas air a h-uile rud, gu ruig òl a’ bhrochain."
"Mae dogn ar bob peth." (Everything has a portion).

"Tha fios aig an luchd nach eil an cat a’s tigh."
"Pei y gath fyddai gartref, gwaeth ’d fyddai." (If the cat were at home, it would be worse).
 
"Tha gu leòr cho math ri cuilm."
"Ni helaethrwydd heb ddigon." (No abundance without enough).
 
"Tha ’smùideag fhèin ’an ceann gach fòid."
"Ys id ar bawb ei bryder." (It’s everyone’s concern).

I had better say that our proverbs are not totally similar every time though and I would like to put two of them in this blog:

"Cha sheas a’ bhriag ach air a leth-chois."
"Goreu cerddedydd, gau." (Walking gorgeous, false!)

"Is fhasa teàrnadh na dìreadh."
"Haws dringo na disgyn." (It’s easier to climb than go down.)

Do you recognise any of the proverbs above? Do you have any similar proverbs for some of the proverbs above?  Let us know on facebook, twitter and our own website! Let us know on facebook, twitter and our own website!